This is the third time FEMA extended the deadline, following public pressure from several politicians from the region, including Gov. Chris Christie.

The governor had argued that 18 months was not enough time for people to gather the paperwork necessary to file a claim.

“Homeowners and business owners simply need more time to file their final flood insurance claims,” Christie said earlier this month.

The original deadline was only 60 days after the storm. FEMA extended the deadline to a year, and then to 18 months after the October 2012 disaster.

Missing the deadline for providing proof of loss documents to the National Flood Insurance Program — which FEMA oversees — would leave property owners ineligible for receiving much government assistance for their damages.

Many people did not have access to their property, let alone their documents, for weeks after the storm, said George Kasimos of Stop FEMA Now, a grass-roots watchdog group.

Others might not have the skills necessary to navigate a complex application process, he said.

“People are going from office to office, not getting proper direction on what to do,” Kasimos said. “They need more time.”